It’s one thing to travel through tropical countries, but by actually putting down some roots and living in the tropics, you’ll gain a much better perspective on just how awesome the warmer part of the world is. With the sun, sand and sea at your doorstep and a relaxed way of life, the tropics has it all.

1. The Vibe

It doesn’t matter whether you’re in the Caribbean, Asia, the South Pacific or Central America, the vibe in tropical climates always seems to be chilled out. The people move (and even speak) at an ultra laid-back pace and no one seems to be in a hurry for anything. Everyone is happy, smiling and laughing and life feels relaxed and stress-free. In some places, people walk around barefoot and even use golf carts as their transportation!

2. The Temperature

Hate winters? Then you’ll love living in the tropics! Even though there are some cloudy and rainy days, it’s very rare for the rains to last a full day. Typically, even during the wet season, the precipitation will only last a couple of hours before clearing up. No matter if it’s raining, cloudy or sunny, the temperature is nice and warm! Not only is the sun shining for most of the year, but the air is humid and moist, which gives your skin a nice glow and helps your joints to become more limber.

3. The Beaches

There’s something special and calming about the sound of the sea lapping at the shoreline. Most tropical countries aren’t landlocked and being able to go for a swim whenever you want, lay on blindingly white sands, or simply gaze out to sea is pretty amazing. Feeling hot? Jump in the water! Feeling bored? Head to the beach! The most beautiful, picture-perfect islands and beaches are found in the tropics.

4. The Fresh Food

The tropics have some of the best fruits in the world! Although not blessed with berries like the northern climates, the abundance of unique fruits found in the tropical climets is incredible. Guava, papaya, pineapple, coconut, mango, lychee, soursop, banana and star fruit are just some of the many sweet fruits found in the tropics…the list could go on, and on. Aside from fruits, living near the water means being able to enjoy fresh seafood! Whether you struggled to catch the fish yourself, or went to the docks searching for the catch of the day, it’s guaranteed to be fresh and delicious.

Getting the fresh catch of the day

5. The Jungle

The jungle is an great place to go hiking and trekking. Plus, it’s usually the best place to spot interesting animals, plants and trees. The sound of the birds and frogs chirping, the bamboo cracking and swaying and walking through the dense and muddy vegetation gives a sense of true exploration, you never know what you’ll find. It’s best to plan a trek that ends at a waterfall! You’ll definitely want to cool off after a hike through the humid jungle.

6. The Cost

Many places in the tropics are quite expensive to live in, while others are very affordable, especially to people from Western countries. The cost of living in Grenada may seem quite high (although still cheaper than North America or Europe), while the cost of living in Thailand is extremely low. Apart from the Caribbean and a couple of countries in South America, the tropical countries are all inexpensive places to live. You can find apartments for as little as $300/month, beers for $1 each, and affordable healthcare too.

7. The Activities

You’ll never be bored while living in a tropical paradise. If you’re especially adventurous, you could don a mask and fins and explore the underwater world. The scuba diving and snorkelling is excellent in the tropics, the colours of the coral and the marine life are all top-notch. Check out the diving in Borneo, Mexico, St. Vincent & The Grenadines, Grenada and Mozambique! Deep sea fishing, kayaking and surfing are some other fantastic past times on the water. Even if you’re not interested in what the ocean has to offer, there are many volcanoes to be trekked, jungles to be hiked and waterfalls to swim in. There’s something for everyone.

Snorkelling in Belize, just one of the many water activities available

There are so many reasons why living in the tropics is awesome and after a few months, you’ll probably find yourself sauntering along at a slow, local pace and enjoying a more relaxed, stress-free lifestyle. There’s just something about a tropical climate, once you’ve experienced it, you’ll be coming back for more. You can find late deals from www.globallatedeals.com to any of your favourite Caribbean beach destinations, so it’s time to pack your bags, put on some sun screen and head to the tropics!

Dariece is a co-founder of Goats On The Road, and together with her best friend, travel partner and love of her life, Nick, she’s been travelling the world since 2008…experiencing some of the least visited corners of our planet. She loves meeting new people and learning about the unique cultures of our world. Her advice has been featured on the Lonely Planet, CNN Money, Business Insider and Forbes.

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17 thoughts on “7 Reasons Why Living in the Tropics is Awesome!”

I totally agree. I love the tropics! There’s something about the vibe of places in the Caribbean and Southeast Asia that I cannot get enough of. Plus, you can’t beat the beaches. I mean there must be a reason I’m always choosing to travel in warm, tropical climates!

We enjoyed our stays in Nepal and Peru but the tropics are home to us. All of SE Asia, Sri Lanka, Costa Rica and Fiji have been dream spots for us. From the warmth, to the beach, to the jungle, to the laid back people, to the chill vibe, to the stunning beauty, I’m a tropics type of guy through and through.

I appreciate Europe but I can’t get away from Thailand, and Fiji, long enough, to pay more for a place I wouldn’t vibe with, as much, versus the tropical locations we can visit at the drop of a hat.

I love the fruit deal too. Here in Savusavu, Fiji we have about 20 papaya trees in the front yard. I pick ’em and have been eating 1-2 each day for the past 3 months. We also have passion fruit, red bananas, yellow bananas, coconut and pineapple on the grounds. Amazing….and if something’s not ripe we can head to the local market to pick up fruit for a few USD….literally.

The warm weather vibes with us too. We love the beach, and also, the jungle, and the animal situation too.

I was thrilled beyond belief to see a 6 inch long elephant scorpion in Koh Lanta, as well as 5 foot long monitor lizards. Awesome! Things get really big in the tropics, and that fascinates the hell out of me since I’m an animal lover/nut.

Guys, you summed up Kelli and mine’s experience. We’re in Fiji until late October, then off to Bali, then home to NJ for Christmas, than likely the tropics of Central America. We love it, and will always feel that Blogging from Paradise means blogging from the tropics for us.

I thought you’d be able to relate to this post 🙂 There’s nothing like blogging from paradises like Grenada and Fiji! I love that you have papaya trees on your property, that’s one of the fruits that we love but have to buy from the local vendors.

I too love monitor lizards, but can’t get used to seeing spiders, snakes and scorpions! The centipedes in Grenada really gross me out! haha. But I do love seeing various birds, sea creatures, monkeys, etc.

We have the same “problem” as you, it’s hard to pull ourselves away from the tropics long enough to explore other parts of the world. But, we think next year will be a mix of tropics and Europe 🙂 How long did you spend in Koh Lanta? We love that little gem.

I am from the tropics (Fiji Islands) lived in one of the remote islands of Fiji. I do agree with all of you guys complimentary remarks regarding living in the tropics.
However the flip-side is that in many instances the locals are disadvantaged due to local commodity price inflations created by the expatriates. I hope this can be controlled by everyone producing their own vegetables and catching their own fish as much as possible, just as the locals do.It will also give one a true perception of third world living, as life in these countries is not all papaya and fruit.

Thanks for your blog! It’s a nice read. I also love living in the tropics here in Singapore. Here’s what I love the most about the tropics:

1. Never Feeling Cold. Growing up in a temperate climate, I dreaded running to the shower during the depths of winter. Here, I can slowly stroll; never shivering or feeling cold. I never get caught out once the sun has set, and suddenly feeling cold.

2. The Fruit (as you aptly mention). Tropical fruits are packed with all the good stuff – enzymes and a full array of essential vitamins. Beyond this, they just taste dam good! I healed my gastritis by drinking each day, a cup of tea made from the papaya leaves of the trees I grew.

3. Skin Condition. My skin is always nicely nourished by the humidity. Even though I spend lots of time outside, I find I’m aging more gracefully here in the tropics. In addition I don’t suffer from dry eyes, dried lips, or crocodile skin, which I did in the cooler clime of my home.

4. Detox. The additional (and often aggressive) sweating I do in the tropics, helps me detox faster than in a cooler climate and stay healthier.

5. Weight. I find it easier to maintain a healthier weight in the tropics. All that sweating helps me stay trimmer. Moreover, I tend to eat less and lighter the warmer the weather. I don’t seem to crave carbs like I did in the winter of home.

6. Sleeping. The heat gently tires me and helps me sleep more easily and deeply. I also love sleeping under a sheet au naturale as opposed to piles of blankets!

7. Clothing. In the tropics I don’t need piles of clothes to wear. My wardrobe is smaller.

8. Herbs and Vegetables. Many of these grow at their optimum in the tropics. The Sweet Basil I grow is incredible.

9. The Colours and Scents These and the texture of plants and vegetation here, when set against a backdrop of deep blue or brooding rainy skies, and intermittent sunsets of red and orange, are second-to-none in the tropics. The perfumed frangipani, gardenia, and tembusu, which carry for miles in the tropical air, are heavenly. Then there are the exotic and fast growing palms, of almost supernatural form and structure! Yes, the tropics are incredible!

9. Well-Being. For me, this is the best part of living in the tropics. The vitamin D the body produces from the sun, intensified in the tropics, release ample serotonin; that mood-lifting chemical, which results in greater feelings of well-being. In a nutshell, less depression!

Yes, there are some inconveniences living in the tropics. The bugs, the mould, the pesky mosquitoes – some of which might carry something nasty. Then there is the profuse sweating profusely while waiting for the bus, which messes up your clothes and hair. Still, I wouldn’t have it any other way!

Thanks for the comment! I wholeheartedly agree with all of your points!! The tropics are amazing 🙂

one thing I do have to mention is that (if you don’t already know), drinking / eating too many papaya leaves can dangerously reduce your blood pressure. A small amount can be healthy to maintaining your blood pressure levels, but we know of someone who actually died in Grenada because she took too many.

Thank you for mentioning about the papaya leaves. I didn’t actually know that, so will be a bit more mindful.
And sorry to hear of the lady who died from too many. I guess the old adage, “Moderation is the best policy,” also applies to natural herbs/teas/potions, such as Papaya tea.

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